188 New Apartments Coming to Good Hope Road

The Washington Post just broke the news that Chapman Development - the same company that developed the Grays at Pennsvania Avenue (AKA the Yes! Organic Market building) has purchased Murphey's Auto Body Shop and (you may want to sit down for this) plans to develop 188 apartments (by right, without zoning changes) on the site, along with 25-30,000 square feet of ground floor retail. As a comparison, the Yes! Organic building is only 118 units.



The site, located between 17th and 18th Streets on Good Hope Road, sits across the street from the Anacostia UPO and Bread for the City, and is just one building down from the Anacostia Neighborhood Library.

Yes, folks, development is finally hitting Good Hope Road (!!!), which has so much potential as it is bookended by the heart of Historic Anacostia and the more affluent and also-redeveloping Hillcrest neighborhood.



My first thoughts:

(1) This will be a precedent-setting development for the neighborhood. Because it is the first large-scale redevelopment in this part of the neighborhood, it it will set the bar for design and quality. It is hugely important that the neighborhood make known that we will accept nothing less than excellent.

(2) The article mentions that the developer might build it out as a senior-living building. Is this something the neighborhood wants or needs more of? If so/not, this needs to be made clear.

(3) As you can see, there are a lof of above-ground wires on this section of Good Hope. Some communities in the DC area have specified that with new development, wires should be undergrounded. Is this something the neighborhood wants to pursue/ask for?

Read the article in its entirety HERE.

Food News: Kabobs for Anacostia?

This seems a bit random, but also goes to show that nowadays it isn't only the "expected" organizations and businesses that are beginning to move to Anacostia. Last week I got news that Rebiya Kadeer (read this great bio from the New York Times), the Uyghur activist and millionaire businesswoman who was exiled from China in 2005, purchased the long-boarded-up commercial building next door to the Honfleur Gallery.



At first, my understanding was that it would be the new DC headquarters for the World Uyghur Congress or the Uyghur American Association - but as of today I heard a different story.

According to sources who spoke with Ms. Kadeer at the site this morning, she plans to open a Uyghur restaurant - featuring the western Chinese ethnic group's famous kabobs - in the space later this year.

I'm sure more info will begin to seep out soon - but regardless of what moves in it's wonderful to see this abandoned and decrepit building go back to productive use! Crossing our fingers that kabobs are in Anacostia's future!

(I spent a semester in Beijing, and happened to live near a Uyghur-dominated commercial street so know and love the food. Great kabobs, edamame, flatbread, and potato dishes)

Supercool HQ Under Construction at GH/MLK

I'm excited to finally give a proper construction update for Environmental Design & Construction's expanded headquarters project just below the intersection of Good Hope and MLK. A long time coming, this project (like my last post) very much represents the quality of design and construction that is (or rather, should) represent the future of this neighborhood.


the new build is taking place in the red and yellow buildings

Inside, EDC has combined two buildings into one, and have completely embraced the exposed and industrial feel while still adding modern space and flavor into the mix as well. (AKA my favorite style)


inside the lobby: the brick wall was once the exterior wall of the yellow building, which was built before the red brick one

As you can see, an original painted sign from the exterior of the old building, which was a hardware and feed store, was partially restored inside:


love the random "M" on the exposed brick


inside the president's new office ... historic Anacostia chic!

The views to the outside should give you some better context for where these buildings are. Because they are on a triangular lot, they have frontage on both MLK Avenue and Good Hope Road.


looking out onto MLK...


...and onto Good Hope

Another cool part about the interior is just how lofty and airy it is. This space was created out of two stodgy old falling apart buildings, yet EDC has created a space that feels refreshing and allows for modern use ... All while preserving the exterior and parts of the inside! (Me <--adaptive use of old buildings dork)





Want another cool feature? Voila, the green roof. The green roof covers the roof of the red brick building, while there is a reflective white roof and (soon to arrive) photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of the yellow half.


looks patchy now, but it will fill in as the rain falls and time goes by

These buildings are on the last block of Good Hope Road before you hit Anacostia Park/Poplar Point. They are adjacent the old CSX railroad line, as well as all the 11th Street Bridges construction. A lot of dirt flying now, but this will be a little jewel box of a block as it develops further.



That concludes the tour! EDC is expecting construction to be complete sometime in May or early June. The building is LEED Gold designed, and they hope to officially certify it at that or another LEED green building level after construction. Three cheers for EDC for staying in Anacostia and adding to its vibrancy and revitalization!

Good Hope, Good News

La Threadz, Anacostia's only boutique clothing store, is moving into new digs just across from their current space at 1345 Good Hope Road. This is a good thing.


the new La Threadz space is the one-story red/orange building

The new space is just to the right of American Shottas, the neighborhood music shop that has a huge selection of local stuff. No word on what will happen with La Threadz' existing space, below.


this building always had a weird McDonalds vibe to me

The owner told me that the new building has a better layout than their current space, and that they will be moving their existing signage across the street.


I do love this little stretch of Good Hope...

As you can see from the above photo taken this past fall, the building is literally across the street. The new space used to house a church, and as you can see, used to be a natural brown brick.

The official move is slated to take place in the next one or two months.

Good Hope, Bad News

Oh 1357 Good Hope Road, how you tease us. First we were worried that you'd be demolished. Then we were excited when you were finally purchased. Now we see that you are back up for sale.


storefront was given a hackjob renovation

Turns out that CG Alliance, the Clarendon-based company who purchased the building last year and began renovations to make it their headquarters, lost a major contract and no longer needs / can afford to keep the building.


the back building could be a really awesome space

As you can see, they had begun renovations. Although they were not the most spectacular of renovations, I was encouraged that the building was staying and that the building would no longer be vacant.


see where they filled in some of the windows in back

The building has new windows, a new high-security fence, and a very odd-looking entrance treatment. Fortunately, the building at the rear of the property was not altered. As one of, if not the oldest existing commercial building on Good Hope, this building deserves a full restoration and an owner that wants this to be a jewel.



But, we're back to square one. Will the building be demolished by a new owner? Should the neighborhood rise up to nominate it for Historic Landmark status (if you're interested, let me know, most of the legwork has already been done) or absorb it into the Anacostia Historic District? What would you like to see at this prominent corner?

The properties, technically 1351-1357 Good Hope Road SE, are listed for sale as a bundle for $975,000. Click Here for the listing.

New Apartments for Good Hope Road

After years of redevelopment limbo, construction is finally underway on the Art Deco building at 15th and Good Hope Road. I noticed that new windows were going in (and glad to see that they are good looking windows), so peeked inside and learned that it will be a mixed-use residential building.


no word on what the other uses will be, but likely ground-floor retail or office space


despite being just outside the historic district, I hope further efforts are made to protect and highlight the Art Deco design


the residential units will be on the second floor, with a few on the first floor on this back half of the building (technically 1916 15th St)


the interior is being gutted now, but it appears that general layout is being preserved


this permit is only for interior demolition

Although the permit I saw was just for interior demo, it shows that there will be 11 residential units, and that the building will remain mixed-use. Here's hoping that the building ends up looking great!

Gas Station Being Demo'd Now

Huzzah! The long-abandoned city-owned gas station at the corner of Good Hope Road and 13th Street SE is finally being demolished.



No longer the future site of the District Department of Transportation, the corner is prime real estate and will hopefully get some sort of face lift soon.


image courtesy of bing maps

Because the onramp to the 11th Street Bridges will no longer begin at this intersection, there is a great opportunity to grow the city's portion of developable land. More on that to come.

Industrial Bank opening soon!

I haven't covered this story much, but a branch of Industrial Bank is about to open in the Anacostia Gateway building at the corner of MLK and Good Hope. It is the first retailer to open in the building, which is still waiting for one more ground floor tenant.


the sign is now above the ATMs in the front room


the interior is very yellow, but pretty sleek


a few historical images of other Industrial Banks are printed on glass as room dividers


another view of the lobby, facing Good Hope Road


ever wanted to see the guts of an ATM?

Although there are many things besides a bank that we hope to see open in downtown Anacostia, this is a great first step. Having good-looking and established retailers set up shop here shows others that it's an okay place to be.

raze permit for the old gas station

the long-abandoned gas station at 1234 Good Hope Road finally has a raze permit. Owned by the District, the gas station site is directly across from Honfleur Gallery and adjacent to the Anacostia Gateway office building.



Although originally planned to be part of the Anacostia Gateway Government Center, rumor has it that the project is off the table and the city is again deciding (how actively I'm not sure) how to use the site.

While they're deciding, (and believe me, I rarely advocate for parking) I think they should make an attractive temporary parking lot like they did at the old convention center downtown. Not only would it clean up the corner, it would provide some much-needed public parking near some of the neighborhood's most visited new amenities.

photo / graphic by DG-rad

retail highlight: American Shottas

this past weekend was, as stated earlier, an amazing time to be outside ramblin around town. I made my way into American Shottas for the first time (ok, I'll admit, the extra loud music from the speaker outside sort of turned me off at first). Once inside it is a vision of classic record store meets local flavor. Definitely worth a visit.











Our neighborhood has both a real and perceived lack of retail. We feel grocery-less even though we have a full-service, albeit old-fashioned-seeming grocery store within blocks (see future post), ...we want to be able to walk to a neighborhood bar or sit-down restaurant, but can't because they don't exist.

We have banks, corner stores, a florist, a cleaner, an almost coffee shop, a clothing store, and even a Subway, but it's often the case that we don't recognize them until we walk inside for the first time or need them at the last minute and finally appreciate their convenience. We want more of them, but we definitely have a few kickin local shops already.

photos / graphics by DG-rad

just waiting on the new storefront glass...

otherwise, Tony's Place (northeast corner of 14th and Good Hope) has seen some nice upgrades in the last few months:


although the vinyl windows aren't my all-time favorite (this is outside the historic district), the new awning is a creative alternative to what is often seen

not sure I'd qualify this general take-out place as an American Diner, but to each his own:


the signs are pretty snazzy ... but does the pipe-wiring for the lights have to be on the exterior?

These are the kinds of upgrades that Main Street Anacostia helps oversee and even fund. They are a hugely important way to change neighborhood perceptions and legitimize the existing businesses along Good Hope and MLK.

photos by DG-rad

sweet shot - just across the 11th Street Bridge

this is pretty great for a few reasons:

1. it is a fantastic shot of winter. this photo is cold.

2. because the capture isn't my own, i see the scene for what it is - this intersection still looks windswept and relatively uncared for, even though I've become used to seeing it this way. i mean, why do we have a boarded-up and crumbling hole as the welcome mat to Historic Anacostia? we can't get used to this stuff or it won't change.

3. the corner highlight serves as a good reminder that we still have a ways to go, and a front and center opportunity right here to change first impressions for the so much better.

the photo, My place of birth, by Flickr user marques_haven

a Cabbie's perspective

I recently took a cab into Anacostia, and upon entering from the 11th Street Bridge asked the driver if he came to the neighborhood much and what his perceptions of it were. He hadn't driven there in about two years, so I remarked at changes that I could point to: Anacostia Gateway, refurbished commercial buildings, cleaner streets, etc.

His response, although not a revalation, was interesting. He told me that in order for people to really recognize the changes in Anacostia, its gateways sorely needed to be addressed, especially at its most visible approach - the southwest corner of MLK and Good Hope:


He also said that although Anacostia Gateway was great, it is in the visual periphery (from this direction, at least), and therefore doesn't have the same effect on first impressions.


I'm sure that the corner will eventually change, but its "I look like a deserted failure" appearance only serves to scare people, retailers, and investment away. The AEDC's Welcome to Historic Anacostia sign would better serve the neighborhood on a symbol of its emergent success than on one of misrepresentative blight.

Rita's Coming to Good Hope

Crossing my fingers that they will do something about the rather haphazard-looking cinder-block front facade, but regardless of physical improvements I'm hugely excited for the Rita's water ice shop coming to 1410 Good Hope Rd.



no word yet on when this might open (the website just says "coming soon"), but it sure would be nice in these summer heat waves.

Anacostia in 1921

The past is not a package one can lay away.

~Emily Dickinson

Click image to Enlarge

This aerial photo from June 26, 1921 shows Anacostia before much of the post-war redevelopment and unfortunate tear-downs in the neighborhood.

1. The U-Street cut-through, before poor planning eliminated the road (formerly called Jackson Street) and the houses that once graced it!

2. The once-human-friendly block that is now the decrepit grocery store and an unnecessarilly large parking lot. I wonder what that larger u-shaped set of buildings was...

3. The current home of a now-empty lot and a corrugated-metal warehouse / health care center thing. Any idea what those two larger (and probably very cool-looking) buildings were?

*Update: the large building on that site was the old Van Buren School, a neighborhood landmark.

4. The residential block - on both W Street and Pleasant Street - that is now the Union Temple baptist church and its ridiculous parking lot.

photo for graphic courtesy of the Washington Post his, via Proquest.

saturday

It was a beautiful, albeit ridiculously hot day for a stroll through the neighborhood. This post is all over the place, so get ready.

Honestly, this building at the corner of Good Hope and 15th would not have been one of Keller Williams "Preferred Properties" even last year. Love that it is now. (I think that there is already a contract on it)


This is what the building was planned to become.


Good ol' Drake's, looking from Good Hope Road. Word from Drake himself is that the restaurant is still coming, and that a new cursive "Anacostia" sign should adorn the front of the building soon.


This is what the old sign looked like. I think the new one will be an exact replica. Should be pretty cool lookin'.

photo courtesy of flickr user ellievanhoutte

This is one of my favorite houses in the neighborhood. It reminds me of New Orleans.


Remember how this playground wasn't finished during the whole HGTV weekend? Well, it's up now.




Yep, this is a sign from 4 years ago. You can add littering to the list of laws Marion Barry has broken.


Remember the Carver Theater building? Turns out they built a sweet giant glass skylight on top.


photos by DG-rad